Author Topic: Newbie alert  (Read 2184 times)

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Offline ajs193

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Newbie alert
« on: December 05, 2017, 16:40:47 »
Hello all,
I'm John, from Weldon in Northants.
I'll be collecting my 2014 DL650 VStrom on Saturday.

I've had a Kawasaki ER-6n since August last year and passed my test in January this year.
DL-650  AL4
Drift HD Ghost

WANTED - h̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶u̶a̶r̶d̶s̶, c̶r̶a̶s̶h̶ ̶b̶a̶r̶s̶, b̶e̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶

Offline kwackboy

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2017, 16:51:06 »
 :welcome:
Chief trouble maker 🙂

Offline Fat Rat

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2017, 18:08:20 »
 :welcome:
*** Bikers Campsite in West Wales ***



Learn to spell! There's a big difference between knowing your shit and knowing you're shit

Visit the V-Strom.co.uk shop today!

Offline Graham62

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2017, 18:36:54 »
Hello and  :welcome:
A drunken man's words are a sober man's thoughts.

Graham

Offline Frostilicus

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2017, 18:44:02 »
 :welcome2:

Offline Brockett

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2017, 18:48:25 »
Hello and  :welcome2:
This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.

Offline Asmith61

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2017, 19:29:23 »
 :welcome: :thumb:

Offline UK_Vstrom650

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2017, 19:58:52 »
 :welcome:

Offline tallpaul

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2017, 20:24:58 »
 :welcome:
Old enough to know better, but still too young to care...

Offline wurzel

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2017, 20:32:06 »
 :welcome2:, and enjoy yourself here, plenty to learn,and we love pictures of bikes!

Offline Gert

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2017, 04:40:54 »
 :welcome: What made you change from the ER6 to the DL650? They both have basically the same performance.

Offline MartinW

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2017, 06:29:02 »
Hello John and  :welcome:
Tall, Dark and Handsome (In 1987) - Just tall now !!

Chief Stasi


Offline ajs193

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Re: Newbie alert
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2017, 14:41:40 »
What made you change from the ER6 to the DL650? They both have basically the same performance.
True

My ER-6n is old & tired. I bought it from my instructor. It's an 07 model on an 09 plate and it's done 47k  :shock:
It's probably been dropped hundreds of times in it's life as a learner bike, hence new bike time.

I like naked bikes, I like adventure bikes. Ideally, I'd have a naked bike that could easily have bits thrown on to make it more touring friendly. Last Saturday we went looking and narrowed it down to 2 bikes, a 650 VStrom and a BMW F800r. I test rode them both on Monday.

I was expecting the the F800r to feel classier and the VStrom to be similar to my ER6n (somewhat agricultural) and went into the dealership fully expecting to buy the F800r after the rides.

I rode the VStrom 1st and from the first minute my thoughts started to  change. The first gear change into 1st gear resulted in a "wow, that felt nice", followed shortly after by "that gear change is great". The seat was very comfortable, the handlebars fitted my reach perfectly with no pressure on my left wrist (which gives me problems). The screen provided very welcome respite from the 3C wind blast and my 1st experience of heated grips was very pleasing. It had a little less power than my ER-6n but was still plenty for me. At the end of the 40 minute test ride my view of the VStrom had increased significantly.

But, now it's time to ride the lovely F800r.
Immediately apparent was the bars are way to far forward for me, I have to stretch for them but I can buy a rearset riser so no problem, off we go. I stalled it leaving the dealers forecourt  :shock:  I stalled it at the end of the road from the dealers  :shock:  the gear change felt just like my ER-6n (like a tractor). The switch gear felt indistinct, there was no click, the whole thing felt twitchy. I took the same route as the VStrom ride, stalled it twice more and was mighty pleased to get back to the dealers, my left wrist was killing me. Yes, the power was nice but not at that cost.

I bought the VStrom without a 2nd though  :thumb:

I'll post some pics when I get it home on Saturday
DL-650  AL4
Drift HD Ghost

WANTED - h̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶u̶a̶r̶d̶s̶, c̶r̶a̶s̶h̶ ̶b̶a̶r̶s̶, b̶e̶l̶l̶y̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶